Latest news with #Reape
Daily Record
7 days ago
- Daily Record
Scots dad set house on fire with son inside after 'devil told him to kill family'
Alexander Reape set the house in fire just days before Christmas while his teenage son was inside. A father who set fire to his home while his teenage son was also inside has been jailed for four years. Alexander Reape sparked the blaze at the terraced house in Livingston, West Lothian days before Christmas 2023 before later claiming the"devil" had told him to do it. The 43 year-old's son Alexander junior luckily escaped before dragging his dad out, but he went back inside to then torch a jacket and a set of blinds. Reape was today sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow. He had earlier pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful fire-raising to the danger of life. Reape had initially faced an accusation of the attempted murder of his son. Judge Tom Hughes today cut the jail-term from six years due to the guilty plea. The court heard Reape - the son of a retired army sergeant - had a history of mental health issues. He was said to have been "angry" on the day of the fire that he had not been admitted to hospital. Reape told a medic: "The devil's voice is telling me to kill my family." The dad and son were later together at their home when Alexander junior spotted smoke coming from a crack in his bedroom door. Prosecutor Vish Kathuria stated the teenager was then aware of more black smoke billowing at the top of the stairs and Reape clutching a disposable lighter. Mr Kathuria added: "It appears Reape set fire to bedding in each bedroom." The panicked son went to grab Reape so they could get out, but the dad resisted. He eventually dragged him away, but Reape soon went back inside. A hysterical Alexander junior had to team up with two neighbours to force entry and eventually get Reape out onto the street. Reape, now of Bathgate, also West Lothian, was later arrested and again claimed the"devil's voice" had told him to do it. He was assessed by a psychiatrist who deemed that he was "aware of his actions and consequences". The repair bill for the housing association property was £91,368. Reape's lawyer today said what occurred was "highly unusual behaviour" and that it was "remarkable someone would act in this way". Jonathan Crowe, defending, added the dad was prepared to be jailed, but that he still "requires help".
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Troubled Scots dad set his house on fire with son inside claiming ‘devil told him to'
It cost the housing association nearly 100k to fix the damage BLAZE HORROR Troubled Scots dad set his house on fire with son inside claiming 'devil told him to' A DAD who set his house on fire while his teenage son was inside claimed the devil told him to do it. Alexander Reape, 43, caused more than £91,000 of damage at the property in Livingston, West Lothian, on December 19, 2023. 2 Alexander Reape pleaded guilty to wilful fire raising at Glasgow High Court Credit: Andrew Barr He set fire to several rooms and later had to be pulled from the property by 18-year-old Alexander junior and their two neighbours. Reape, of nearby Bathgate, initially faced a charge of attempted murder towards his son. However, he pleaded guilty yesterday at the High Court in Glasgow to wilfully fire raising to the danger of life. The court heard that Reape has a history of poor mental health and he failed to be admitted to hospital for his issues on the day of the fire which made him 'angry.' He told a psychiatrist: 'The devil's voice is telling me to kill my family.' Later that day, Reape and his son were alone in the property when the boy saw smoke coming from the crack in his bedroom door. Prosecutor Vish Kathuria said: 'He noticed black smoke coming from the top of the stairs and his father who was holding a disposable lighter.' The boy also seen smoke coming from other bedrooms in the property. Mr Kathuria added: 'It appears Reape set fire to bedding in each bedroom.' The teenager made efforts to grab his dad to get him outside but he resisted. Dad of Brit Bella Culley, who's being held in Georgia after vanishing on Thai hols, shares his fears Reape was eventually dragged out but returned to the property where he as noted to set alight a jacket and a set of blinds. The teenager and two neighbours forced entry and pulled Reape from the house again. Reape was placed under arrest and told officers: 'The devil's voice told me to do it.' The teenager meantime was stated to be crying hysterically and was covered in smoke. 2 Alexander Reape at the High Court in Glasgow where he pled guilty to setting fire to the house in Livingston Credit: Spindrift Reape was assessed again by a psychiatrist who deemed that he was 'aware of his actions and consequences and would receive prison time.' The bill for the damage - footed by a housing association - was £91,368 which took 10 months to repair. Jonathan Crowe, defending, told the court: 'He was having problems with his mental health. "He sought help and he did not receive it. 'He is under no illusions that what he pleaded guilty to will attract custody and he is extremely anxious.' Sentence was deferred pending background reports until next month by Judge Tom Hughes who granted Reape bail meantime.
